Kevin Miller, long time drummer for the band Fuel has parted ways with the band after a seven year run. Citing creative and personal differences, Kevin points to a long list of troubles within the organization that lead to his being let go.

 

"I have put blood, sweat and tears in this band over the years.  I have been dedicated to the fans, the music and the band and have been there for Brett, Carl and Jeff in every way personally and professionally. There are so many problems within the band and Carl just took the easy way out by firing the guy who was the least responsible for the problems,  but the most observant about what was going on. I am sad to leave the band, but relieved to be able to tell the truth. I feel like the fans have a right to know what is really going on with Fuel."

 

According to Kevin, Carl has taken the band on a steady decline over the years by making bad decisions about managers, lawyers and especially within the creative vision of the band.  

 

"Carl was always very controlling, but it came to a head on Natural Selection, which coincidentally is the CD that sold the worst. It was a bad vibe, Carl controlled everything, including what notes I played!"

 

Kevin also says that Brett's voice problems brought an extra layer of tension into the day to day life in Fuel, "Brett has been struggling with his voice for a long time and instead of taking the necessary steps to get him help, he has been singing to track on the last two tours. I never agreed with that decision but no one ever disagrees with Carl about decisions involving Fuel.  I have tried anyway, to make my opinion be known. I think the fans deserve much better than a singer who is either screaming or lip synching."

 

Kevin does not want to elaborate too much on the personal differences between he and the band, but does say that that the seeds of the problem began about three years ago just after Carl's relationship with his then girlfriend, ended.

 

"Carl never wanted to take responsibility for what happened within his relationship and instead decided that my fiancée, Christine was never allowed to be out on the road because he blamed her for what happened between him and his girlfriend.  I was always professional about it and was able to show up for extensive tours even though it was causing a very unhealthy rift within in the band. My attitude was, do it for the fans, the show must go on!"

 

Tensions came to a head within the last three months due to similar run ins and when Fuel finished their last tour, Kevin received the bad news about being ousted from the band.

 

"I can take being let go, but what I can't take is the truth not being told about what actually happened.  In every way, financially, personally and professionally, Carl Bell owes me and until that gets cleared up, I feel the need to tell people my side of the story."

 

Currently, Kevin is spending some well deserved down time at his home in Pennsylvania while looking for a new band to work with. "I am looking forward to the future and what opportunities will come my way."

 

Kevin's tenure with the band included several national tours with Aerosmith, Kid Rock, and Creed among others and three CD's  including Natural Selection, Something Like Human and Sunburn.  

 

Fuel was extremely successful in the United States selling over 4 million records. The bands last Epic Records CD, Natural Selection did not perform as well as previous releases, but did sell around 300,000 in the US.